The Story of How Lincoln the Dog Went Christmas Shopping at Walmart

POCAHONTAS, Ark. – The most intriguing visitor on Dec. 6, 2023 at Pocahontas’s Walmart had more than just two legs – he had four.

“Lincoln,” the dog, found himself on an unexpected adventure during his morning walk with Mckenzie Hankins on Tuesday morning in Pocahontas when his collar unexpectedly broke. Mckenzie acquired the dog in 2018 when he was approximately one year old. She told NEA Report that while walking, Lincoln spotted a cat, tugged on the leash, and slipped out of his collar. In typical dog fashion, Lincoln promptly dashed off on an adventure.

“I wondered if I needed to get him a harness and put an extra leash on it,” Mckenzie said. “He knows how to get out of regular collars. He’s an escape artist.”

Only Lincoln knows where he went to next. But his Tuesday adventure eventually took him to the Walmart Supercenter. Wearing his sweater, which Mckenzie says is the only clothing item he won’t tear off, Lincoln walked through the front doors. From there, the canine knew exactly where to go. A customer commented he was shopping when the dog ran past him to get to the pet section.

Mckenzie expressed surprise at Lincoln’s ability to locate the pet supplies, considering he had never set paw in Walmart before. She speculated that his keen sense of smell might have guided him.

Mirroring a child eagerly eyeing their most-desired toy, Lincoln promptly selected his desired plaything – a stuffed rooster. The store manager and employees, touched by the dog’s enthusiasm, not only bought him the toy but also ensured his well-being until his owner was found.

“He’s a sweetheart, but he can be a turkey sometimes,” Mckenzie wrote on Facebook. “They said he got a toy while he was there, so I’m sure he’ll be trying to make his way back there for another one.”

 

 

After a Walmart employee posted about the missing dog on Facebook, Lincoln’s owner was located. Mckenzie said her boss’s wife tagged her in the post, prompting her to discover a missed call from Walmart.

All ended well as the furry wanderer was reunited with his owner. However, for Mckenzie, this wasn’t an entirely new experience, as Lincoln had a similar escapade in the past.

“One time, he got out in Hoxie and ran out in the middle of a football game,” Mckenzie said. “They had to stop the game and the resource officer went and got him off the field.”

In an update, McKenzie humorously noted that at Lincoln’s current rate, the entire town of Pocahontas would soon know him.

She also expressed gratitude to the Walmart employees for their care and assistance in ensuring Lincoln’s safe return home.